The Pastor’s Pen

Rev. Stephen Rutherford

Thankful for Material Things

   In her book, Discipline, the Glad Surrender, Elisabeth Elliot reveals four meaningful lessons to be learned from the discipline of our possessions: “The first lesson is that all things are given by God. Because God gives us things indirectly by enabling us to make them with our own hands (out of things He has made, of course) or to earn the money to buy them we are prone to forget that He gave them to us. We should be thankful. Thanksgiving requires the recognition of the Source. It implies contentment with what is given, not complaint it excludes covetousness. The third lesson is that things can be material for sacrifice. The Father pours out His blessings on us; we, His creatures, receive them with open hands, give thanks, and lift them up as an offering back to Him. This lesson leads naturally to the fourth which is that things are given to us to enjoy for awhile. What is not at all fitting or proper is that we should set our hearts on them. Temporal things must be treated as temporal things received, given thanks for, offered back but enjoyed.

     This month let us give thanks for all we have, especially our salvation.  First, our Father gave us the Savior (Christ Jesus) to be the punishment for our sins.  We did not ask for our savior, God out of love for us sent him and we owe it to the Father to recognize and give thanksgiving for His gift to us.  We should also be in constant thankgiving for the word of God (scriptures).  It to was a gift from God, inspired by the Holy Spirit to men dedicated to preserving the Truth established in Jesus Christ.  While Jesus was only on the earth temporally he lives on at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  The scriptures  remained with us to use and share with others because of its Authority- all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God, Clarity - the Bible is written in such a way that all things necessary for our salvation and for our Christian life and growth are very clearly set forth in Scripture, Necessary - all the words in Scripture are God’s words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will, and its Sufficiency-it contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly.

     We have much to be thankful for in God’s word.  As we pray for the material things God has provided for us let us not forget the Word of Salvation.

Bro. Stephen Rutherford

Location:    14450 Main St.       Orrville, AL  36767     (334) 996-8715

Mailing Address:     PO Box 236    Orrville, AL 36767